Inspection of the EYFS

Liz Elsom Children’s policy and frameworks

19 May 2009

Quality of childmindingSeptember 2008 – March 2009

Issues from registration and inspection Differences between the registers

particularly on the use of assistants and qualifications

Planning and assessment expectations Written paperwork Exemption from learning and development

requirements Confusion about childcare on domestic

premises Four-year-olds in education Completion of the EYFS profile

The self-evaluation form

Completing the self-evaluation formChildminders should: Refer to the EYFS framework and guidance Involve assistants, parents and children Think carefully about what they do and how well Consider the impact on the children’s welfare,

learning and development Consider how the needs of all the children for whom

they care are met Think about what could be done better

Top tips on using the self-evaluation form Use as a tool for improvement, not just for

inspection Evaluate, don’t just describe Include examples Be specific in your priorities for improvement Say how you’ve collected and used user views Identify evidence for your statements

Refer to the detailed Guidance on completing an effective early years self-evaluation form

Inspection

What do we look for?What is it like for a child here?Inspectors assess how well: The uniqueness of each child is

recognised No group or individual is

disadvantaged Children’s welfare is promoted Children make progress and achieve

well Partnerships promote good quality Planning including self-evaluation is

effective

Key judgementsInspectors make four main judgements, graded on a four point scale, and a range of supplementary judgements to decide: How effective is the provision in meeting the needs of the children? How effectively are children helped to learn and

develop? How effectively is the welfare of the children

promoted? How effectively is provision led and managed

Bringing about improvement Recommendations Actions Escalating tariff Monitoring letters

How to prepare for inspection Use Are you ready for your inspection? Follow the EYFS Statutory framework and

Practice guidance Provide the best for each child all day every

day Tell Ofsted of changes and significant events Keep specified records up to date Reflect regularly on what helps or hinders

children Strengthen the best and fix the rest Make the most of information and support

available.

How to prepare for inspection (2) Can I show that:

My setting meets the requirements at all times?

My setting delivers the EYFS well at all times?

Recent changes have improved outcomes?

Self-evaluation has led to better learning, development and welfare?

I’ve acted on parents’ views to improve outcomes?

I work with other providers?

In the best and improving settings

Inspectors see: Children are at the heart of all that

happens Adults having a robust approach to

keeping children safe Providers further improving on already

outstanding practice Stimulating environments in place to

enable children to thrive safely Records and observations used extremely

well to support children

Looking aheadWe have: Reviewed all our written documents Consulted providers and parents about

inspection reports Worked with DCSF on clarification about a

number of issues Worked with colleagues in Ofsted who

inspect the EYFS in schools Taken account of all information on how we

register and inspect provision

Looking aheadWe are: Producing additional fact sheets where

needed available on our website Testing some slight changes to the four

judgements we make Improving our guidance to inspectors and

providers Considering comments about reports to

see if we can make them easier to read Considering if we need to make any

changes to the self-evaluation form to make it easier to use

The overriding focus is and will continue to be: what is it like for a child here?Key documents: Are you ready for your inspection Guidance on completing an effective early

years self-evaluation form Using the early years evaluation schedule Conducting early years inspections Early years: leading to excellence Learning from the best

all on www.ofsted.gov.uk

Raising standards, improving lives